Anybody own a hand crank leather stitcher?

[bird dogger]

Here's mine with a few mods I've added to it. It is/was sort of a project. Or as they say, you should consider it a kit when you get it. But there's lots of youtube vids on the "leather patcher", "chinese sewing machine", etc. They'll take you through set up, trouble shooting, fixing, timing, etc.

I motorized mine with a 3d printed gear kit and belt found online. After the tuning, a little metal work, and building a better stand for it ..... it does work pretty well for what I use it for. You wouldn't want to start up a Tent and Awning Repair shop with it. But for small jobs of leather, heavy canvas, webbing, etc. it does fine.

The motorized version now with electronic speed control (foot pedal) leaves both hands free to manipulate the project. I've had it about two years now and all in with the mods there's about $200 or just barely over invested in it at that time. I'll see how many pics of it I can attach for you

 

[stuckmotor]

Here's mine with a few mods I've added to it. It is/was sort of a project. Or as they say, you should consider it a kit when you get it. But there's lots of youtube vids on the "leather patcher", "chinese sewing machine", etc. They'll take you through set up, trouble shooting, fixing, timing, etc.

I motorized mine with a 3d printed gear kit and belt found online. After the tuning, a little metal work, and building a better stand for it ..... it does work pretty well for what I use it for. You wouldn't want to start up a Tent and Awning Repair shop with it. But for small jobs of leather, heavy canvas, webbing, etc. it does fine.

The motorized version now with electronic speed control (foot pedal) leaves both hands free to manipulate the project. I've had it about two years now and all in with the mods there's about $200 or just barely over invested in it at that time. I'll see how many pics of it I can attach for you
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Thank you! I was beginning to think nobody in the group had one.

 

[bird dogger]

Thank you! I was beginning to think nobody in the group had one.

Glad to help!! There are a few places that also sell parts for them. The only real downside is the small size of the bobbin that has to fit at the end of the narrow arm. It doesn't hold a lot of thread. But it is a "patcher" rather than a production sewing machine. The bobbin winder is junk and you're better off making a separate one out of a little motor, cordless drill, etc. (you can see mine at the back of the machine in one of the pics)

For a motor: If you google "VR-600 Brushless Motor" or "CS 1000 servo motor" you should find one similar to what I used. The package includes the motor and controller.

Motorizing: On youtube there's a few videos on motorizing the patcher. The usual "normal" sewing machine motors are not strong enough. The kind listed above are much stronger and the electronic speed controller is great. You can set the min/max speed that your foot control will give you. There's a youtube video of the 3D printed ring gears that are used with these motors. The person making them sells them on ebay. Search for them on ebay with something like "Leather Sewing Machine Servo Gear Kit".

The big flywheel on the patcher can vary in size by a minute amount. The ring gear has instructions with what to do in that situation for a proper fit. If the flywheel is too large, you can split the gear and glue it on. I chose to reduce my flywheel diameter by turning it on a lathe to take off just a few "thou" until the ring fit tight over it rather than cutting the ring gear. A file and sandpaper would also have worked with some effort. The ring gear will stretch slightly, but you don't want that. If stretched too much, then the notched belt doesn't line up perfectly with the teeth on the gear. Just something to watch for.

After you dismantle it to smooth rough edges, grease, etc. The one key point on reassembly and tuning it is to make sure that the "hook" is just at the needle's "eye" at the bottom of the needles travel. You adjust both the needle height and the timing of the "hook" in two separate places to accomplish that. Some videos can be a little misleading on getting the machine to sew right.

When you get your machine, stuckmotor, let me know if I can help with any issues!!

I also have a Singer 201-2 that I use to sew the tractor winter front covers that I make.

 

[stuckmotor]

Thanks again, bird dogger this is VERY useful information. I think and work slowly so it might be a while before I get back to you.
Stuck

 

[bird dogger]

Thanks again, bird dogger this is VERY useful information. I think and work slowly so it might be a while before I get back to you.
Stuck

Here's a little project I used mine on today and thought you and others might find helpful or at least interesting. I had just fabbed up a light duty beam and hoist setup for use in storing/retrieving items from the mezzanine in the storage shed. (14 ft. sidewalls with the mezzanine at about the 7' level or just above.)

Some wide nylon webbing material seemed to call out to be made into some slings to use with the new hoist. The ends of the material were doubled over and then formed into a loop to be sewn together. the patcher had no troubles sewing through those 4 layers with some heavy duty bonded nylon thread. I made a pair each of 3' and 6' lengths to start with. As easy as it was to sew up that nylon webbing...... I'm thinking of sewing up a cargo net for lifting some odd ball shaped items that might show up. I'll test the loops strength carefully before lifting too high up, but I doubt there's going to be any problems with the sewing giving out. Here's some pics:

 

[stuckmotor]

bird dogger,
Thanks for the pix. The straps look good.
My machine has arrived and looks.good in the box. It's waiting for me to assemble it, fabricate a base, and check it out.

 

[scootr]

I worked in a saddle shop for a time. I would love to have an older walking foot upholstery machine like a Juki or such.
I see them for around $300 in good condition.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I worked next door to an upholstery shop for years and they had Singer machines like this one. They sewed leather, heavy canvas...anything. I learned a lot by watching and we still have a chair I reupholstered.
Leatherwork would be interesting. So many things you can save a bundle providing labor.

 

[scootr]

Yup that's it... Think Ill look for one. I did a lot of leather sewing repairs in my work there. I even built a western saddle or 2.